Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-05-20
Irish Tenant Rights.

Iflsn tenant flights.
The Irish Loyal and Patriotic union has
sent to the principal newspapers of this
country pamphlet setting forth in detail
the rights and privileges of Irish tenants
in Ireland. The pamphlet states that in
Parliament in 1860, the first of four i'm
portant Irish land bills was passed BY
the first of these it was provided that a
tenant cannot be evicted for non payment
of rent, unless he is at least one year in
arrears, and he can recover possession at
any time within six months by the pay
ment of his arrears. In that event the
landlord is bound to pay the tenant the
amount of profit he could have obtained
from the land during the time he was dis
possessed.
In 1870 another act was passed, which
provided that small tenant, dispossessed
for any other cause than non-payment of
rent, must be paid full compensation for
all the Improvements he had made Even
when evicted for non-payment of rent he
can require compensation for improve
ments, and if his annual rent did not eX-
coed S15, but is declared excessive by the
court, the dispossessed tenant can secure
compensation for his eviction. If tenant
voluntarily gives up his lease, he must be
paid for his improvements or be permitted
to sell them to his successor.
A third act was passed in 1881, giving
tenants the right to remain indefinitely,
subject to periodical revision of their rent,
and further permitting tenants to apply
to the land commission court to fix fair
rent This act also allowed tenant to
sell his holding to the highest bidder,
when he desired to go elsewhere
Finally, in 1885 the land purchase act
was passed, providing that when a tenant
desires to purchase his holding, and can
agree with his landlord as to terms. he
may cease paying rent, and may instead
pay an annuity, terminating at forty-n
years, the government advancing the pur-
chase money, which the tenant repays at
four per cent. Thus, if tenant pays $50
rental and agrees to buy his farm
from the landlord at $1,000, the govern
ment advances the money and he ceases
paying rent. Instead, he pays the govern
ment four per cent on the purchase price,
or $40 annually for fortynine years, and
at the end of that time comes into posses
sion of the property.
1t can hardly be said that the English
government has not provided for the re-
lief of the tenant class in Ireland by their
liberal and helpful acts. Yet it is a fact
that the Irish peasantry do not enjoy
these privileges as they should. The land
lords still evict and Cypress their tenants,
and the government seems to support
them in their injustice. 1t is for the pur-
pose of awakening sentiment in this
thnt hon ba1 TO
forcement of the laws in favor of the ten
ant class, that the Irish Loyal Union adj
dresses its appeal to the American press.
Senator Morrill, is credited by West
ern contemporary as saying that the
country will go to the dogs in the latter
part of this year unless Congress is called
in special session." and that 1.-THE neglect
of the last Congress TO take measures to
lower the revenue he is convinced was
unfortunate" And yet Mr.. Morrill, was
one of the majority in the Senate who op'
posed the reduction of the revenue by
change in the tariff, and refused even TO
consider any measures TO that end
Montpelier Argus.
Mr.. Morrill,, AS we have the best author
ity for saying never used the language
put in his mouth by the Argus or its
anonymous Western contemporary
What he said was in substance that the
country would not go to ruin, if a special
session was not called. 1t would make
difference with the ten COM
mandments if the nots We're left out of
them; and such omissions are apt to
change materially the meaning of a mans
wolds, Probably the Argus did not strike
out then itself but only took advantage
of typographical error made by some one
of its exchanges, As to refusing to con
slider measures to reduce the revenue,
Morrill, had no opportunity to do
so, if he desired. The Senate could not
originate legislation for that purpose.
Such measures must originate in the
House, and the republican Senate waited
in vain for the democratic House 20 send
it new tariff bill. These are the facts in
this matter but we do not suppose the
Argus will let its readers see them,
A Wedding and IA Death ut the Same
Time.
\ death and a marriage in the same
house at almost the same time took place
IN Dover n H., the other Qay. 2.Vear-